I deliberately avoided asking for an interview to be prepared ahead of time with our 1st place winner to avoid spoiling the surprise. (How I wish I could have seen her face when she found out!) However, we will be preparing an interview with Allison during the coming week.

Allison may be surprised by this, but this particular entry received a perfect 5 from one of the judges. It stood out for its creativity and excellent use of the topic. It was also very contemporary, which made it highly publishable. So the internet quarter was not such a disaster after all.

Congratulations to all three winners. You all deserve to be applauded for some excellent writing.

And, of course, applause to all those who made it on to the list of contenders. Well done.

Along with covering my mouth and just staring at the computer screen and repeating "Oh my gosh!" repeatedly. Wow.

Deb, you have NO IDEA how many times I had to convince myself that no I could NOT have possibly won.... partially because there was no interview in my in-box. Or that I even could have placed in the top three. I was trying to prepare myself.

Now I must try to form actual words so I can tell my family...

*still in utter and complete shock*

Okay. Virtual celebratory Dove Dark Chocolates for everyone!

DUCK! And.... CATCH!

*starts tossing chocolates out with reckless abandon*

Um... wow. That's about all I really have to say. Wow. *shakes head in disbelief*